Communication
Communicating with Your Camper
A Message From Claire, 12, Camp Foley Camper
In a three-week session campers write two mandatory letters home.
The first is a mandatory postcard that is written within the first few days and a mandatory letter is written at the midway point of the session. Those are the only two letters your camper has to write home.
We at Camp Foley say that no news is usually good news because your camper is having too much fun to write home. Please call the office if you haven’t heard from your camper or have any other concerns.
We strongly encourage you to write to your camper! New campers often feel comforted by receiving mail from home within the first few days. Some parents write their camper a letter and send it a few days before camp so they have mail when they arrive; we think that’s a great idea!
Mail and Email
Most campers prefer to get real mail over email, but campers can receive both. Please note that campers can ONLY write letters and will not have access to email you back. Although we do not allow our campers to email their parents, international campers may bring one page letters to the office to be scanned and emailed home to the email address we have on file.
We will NOT send emails to any email address other than the address listed for the parents in our files, so please be sure that we have accurate information.
To Send a Letter
Camper’s Name
Camp Foley
9303 Father Foley Drive
Pine River, MN 56474
To Send an Email
Parents will be given access to our email system to send emails to their camper. An email will be sent to you prior to your camper’s session with instructions. Of course, let us know if you are having trouble or do not receive this email.
Packages
Unfortunately, campers cannot receive packages. If we can, we will return anything that comes in a box or over-sized/padded envelopes to the sender. If we cannot return the package to you, the contents may be donated to charity and will not be given to your camper. Please learn about sending birthday mail.
If you need to send an item forgotten at home, we ask that you email the Camp Foley Office prior to sending the package so that we know to open it immediately. The package will be opened in the office and the contents will be taken to your camper.
Phone Calls
To work on independence, campers are not able to call home nor are you able to call your camper. You may call the camp office to inquire about your camper’s adjustment to camp – the directors and office staff have no problem sharing news with you about your camper!
Communication from Camp Staff
You will receive news of your camper from Foley counselors over the course of the session:
- Your camper’s cabin counselors will be writing two times – midway thru and at the end of the session. An additional time will happen if your camper is 10 years of age and under or new to Foley, ages 11 to 13.
- Our RN will contact parents if there are any concerns regarding medication, care given, or change of health status.
- You are invited to call during the day to get a more personal update regarding activities that your child is taking, comments that their counselors have submitted, etc. Always here to answer your questions.
- Check out your Camper in Touch, under the “News” tab for some brief updates throughout the session.
We want you to feel confident with how your camper is doing at Foley, so feel free to email or call (218) 543-6161 at any time. However, as a parent, you should prepare yourself for the separation. Each summer we talk to more “child-sick” parents than we do homesick campers. Be assured that the camp staff contacts you when it’s necessary.
In Case of Emergency
If there is a family emergency, such as a death or serious illness, please contact Marie Schmid, Executive Director. Marie will help set up a phone call, provide support for your camper and will help make any necessary travel arrangements.
The best place to check if severe weather is an issue is our website. On the homepage we will post a message about any severe weather emergencies.